Biologists confirm first breeding wolf pack in Oregon

Oregon Fish and Wildlife DepartmentAn aerial photo of a wolf in northeast Oregon taken in January.

Biologists in northeast Oregon have confirmed the presence of Oregon's first reproducing pack of wild wolves since the predators were exterminated from the state decades ago.

State biologist Russ Morgan and another biologist heard the howls of at least two adult wolves and two pups in the predawn hours Friday in northern Union County, north of La Grande, Morgan said Monday.

The biologists themselves were howling under a bright moon, trying to produce an audible response from wolves, a common method of surveying for the animals.

"It was pretty thrilling to get a response like that," said Morgan, who has been conducting the howling surveys for years. "It was definitely surprising after two years of looking."

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The biologists did not see the wolves but could tell from the howls that there were both adults and pups. Morgan estimated they were less than one-quarter mile away. "We could clearly hear a couple of pups at the same time. There very well may have been more."

Biologists had seen scattered signs of wolves, including tracks and scat, in the area since November, he said. Several single wolves have been spotted in northeast Oregon over the past decade, but until now, biologists had seen no evidence that the animals had paired up to reproduce.

The pups probably were born in early to mid-April and are now out of their den and traveling with the adults.

"We've been chasing around single wolves, but this is pretty important because it's the first breeding," said Morgan, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's wolf coordinator, based in La Grande.

The reproduction of wolves in Oregon reflects the resurgence of a species that once was the target of government-sponsored bounty, trapping and poisoning programs. An early priority in the settlement of the West was to eradicate major predators to make the land safe for livestock.

Biologists now recognize that predators have ecological value, although many people in rural communities oppose the return of wolves to the region.

The federal government reintroduced wolves to central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in 1995 as part of a regional plan to restore the species. The wolves multiplied quickly and have spread into neighboring states.

Last week, biologists in northern Washington's Okanogan County caught and placed a radio collar on a lactating female that had been nursing pups -- the first evidence of a reproducing wolf pack in Washington.

Biologists probably will try to fit one or more of the Oregon wolves with radio collars to help track their movements and help biologists understand where they are frequenting. Although the area is remote, state officials will alert local livestock ranchers. -- Michael Milsteinmichaelmilstein@news.oregonian.com